ATTLEBORO - Both candidates for mayor started the year with minimal amounts of cash in their campaign coffers, but if history is a predictor, both will end up raising and spending a lot more before the November election.

At the end of 2006, the latest date for which figures are available, Mayor Kevin Dumas had just $1,773 in his account, while challenger John Davis, Ward 5 city councilor, had more than twice as much, $3,792. But neither amount will put a candidate in the corner office.

Over the last two elections Dumas has spent an average of $11,900 to win the top city job.

In 2003, he shelled out $8,104 to best six-term incumbent Judy Robbins. And in 2005, he paid $15,702 to beat challenger Tom Parker.

However, in each case he spent less than his opponent. In 2003, Robbins spent $15,554, almost twice as much Dumas.

In 2005, the $15,702 that Dumas spent to beat Parker was still about $7,100 less than Parker's $22,833.

Dumas received no contributions in 2006, while Davis recorded $3,690 in donations.

Most of the donations, $3,000 worth, were received in December of last year as he made it known he would be running for mayor.

The additional $690 came in at an undetermined time because it came in amounts of under $50 and did not have to be individually recorded.

Davis' single biggest contribution, $1,000 came from Dawn and Jimmy Martins of Harrisville, R.I. The couple owns Coastal Collision and Towing of Pawtucket.

Peter Bottomley of Bottomley and Robbins, a metal stamping company at 46 Union St., pitched in $500.

And Kevin Judge, one of the owners of Reynolds and Markman Co., donated $200.

Reynolds and Markman is involved in a dispute with the Attleboro Redevelopment Authority, which has been trying to buy the company's property to make way for a massive downtown revitalization project.

Developer Bill Ward of North Attleboro also chipped in with $200. GEORGE W. RHODES can be reached at 508-236-0432 or at grhodes@thesunchronicle.com.